Realizing that the face of San Benito County is ever-changing,
the sheriff’s department is implementing a diversity program to
keep its employees versed in the evolving demographics as a way to
better serve the community.
Realizing that the face of San Benito County is ever-changing, the sheriff’s department is implementing a diversity program to keep its employees versed in the evolving demographics as a way to better serve the community.
Over the past several years, the once primarily agricultural-based community has transformed into a diverse melting pot of different races, cultures and backgrounds, according to Sheriff Curtis Hill.
To provide an adequate level of law enforcement and public service to the developing demography, Hill wants the approximately 70 employees in his department to know how to deal with everyone, and for everyone to feel comfortable in dealing with them, he said.
“We’re looking at the foundation and making sure every brick is lined up appropriately to be more accountable to the community,” Hill said. “Smart businesses need to be able to look at what makes up their community and be responsive to that community if they’re going to be successful. We’re working toward that end.”
The program, which will cost about $20,000, will be funded through the California Rural County Crime Prevention Act, which recently allocated $500,000 to the department.
Hill plans to hire a company that deals specifically with diversity implementation in business and public service organizations to work with employees for as long as it takes to achieve the department’s goal, he said.
Hill hopes to better emulate the department’s mission statement of serving the public by establishing a partnership with the community, protecting life and property, preventing crime and solving problems.”I want us to be able to live our mission statement and core values in the organization. I don’t want it just as something on a plaque on a wall,” he said. “You show me a boss who’s not paying attention to that, and I’ll show you an organization that’s gonna fail because they’re not in tune. It’s just that simple.”
The group implementing the diversity program will take public surveys and use the information gathered to train sheriff department employees on how to understand and respond to the community’s diversity.
Hill cited an increase in the number of white-collar workers highly skilled in technology, the Hispanic community, the black and Asian population, and the gay and lesbian community as the fastest growing demographic areas.
By increasing diversity knowledge in the sheriff’s department, Hill said he hopes to attract employees with more diverse backgrounds.
“If I can create an environment where I build a trust in the community, I believe the result is attracting recruits from those cultures,” he said. “We’re looking ahead of the curve… I’m not going to stand still, ever.”
County Supervisor Reb Monaco commended Hill for his insight and pro-active measures within the department.
“It’s always important to keep abreast of that. As long as I’ve been in this county, for the past 30 years, there has been a tremendous amount of change,” Monaco said. “We have a lot of issues we never had to deal with 20 years ago.”
Changing with the times is especially important in law enforcement, Monaco said, because without the proper knowledge of a diverse community, deputies and office personnel will not be able to properly handle situations they confront.
Monaco said he would support other public service departments in the county implementing similar programs if the need was apparent.
Often times, smaller law enforcement agencies overlook the importance of diversity, Hill said. This program will not only help his employees to better deal with and communicate with the people they serve, but will be a boon to the community as well, he said.
“I believe the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office has a great level of trust with the community, however, what can we do to make that better?” Hill said. “I don’t want mediocrity in here. I want people who know the community, and who the community will trust for a good, solid product.”
